Recommendations for 2006 Autotrail Scout upgrade charging system.

[LostinWales]

Hi All,
I currently have Lead acid batteries 3 x 130Ah, a 100w Solar panel through a Victron MPPT, Sargent 2007PSU charging and wiring, plus a standard Alternator which I believe is 150A, although it could be 80A, depends who you are listening to.
We have had flat battery issues with little use, and on my boat I fitted a Sterling A2B charger which had inputs from alternator, wind, solar and the EHU 25A charger. Doesn't seem to be a thing in MoHos though, not sure why?
I would like a better DC charging setup, any recommendations for a more automated system, and perhaps someone North Wales or NW England to install?
Thanks

 

[LithiumConvert]

The marine world is a lot more protective of the starter battery than we are in the motorhome world. The starter battery starts the engine and powers nothing else.

But essentially a Sterling Power B2B will do the same job as your boat's A2B.

But, wheres your boat's A2B also had inputs for solar, wind and EHU, you will have to provide separate chargers for EHU and solar. So, three chargers connected to the leisure battery.

Your Sargent EHU could well be OK for many years.

You will need to disable the split charge relay in the Sargent unit if you fit a B2B.

Your existing solar sounds OK.

As for an installer, the marine people could probably do it just as well as the motorhome people.

If you are going to that expense, then I would ensure that anything you buy is Lithium compatible for the future (if not now).

 

[autorouter]

An A2B (Alternator-to-Battery) charger connects directly to the alternator and acts as a power regulator. A motorhome vehicle base already has an alternator with a regulator built in to charge the starter battery, which is part of the base vehicle circuitry, so that is used as a basis for the leisure battery charging. A MH uses either a split charge relay or a B2B.

A split charge relay directly connects the leisure battery to the starter battery when the engine is running, so that the alternator can charge both batteries. It disconnects them when the engine stops. A B2B takes power from the alternator when the engine is running, to charge the leisure battery. When the engine stops, it switches off. It is independent of the starter battery charging, which remains as before.

When fitting a B2B, it is important to disable the split charge relay to avoid shorting the B2B input and output, which makes it useless. The split charge relay is usually built into the 12V distribution/fusebox, so the method of disabling is depends very much on the make and model of the distribution/fusebox.

 

[CAB96]

Rhino are in the North West, have heard good reviews but not used them myself.

Rhino Installs - Motorhome and Caravan services. Fitting Service for Motorhomes, Caravans, Campervans, Vans and more...

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www.rhinoinstalls.co.uk

 

[Cush]

Hi LostinWales ,
you didn’t by any chance find out how to disable the split charge relay did you without compromising any other functions? I have the same power supply unit etc and would like to replace with a b2b too

Cush

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